RELATING TO FERAL ANIMALS.

SB568

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

568

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO FERAL ANIMALS
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that populations of feral
goats, sheep, and pigs have grown exponentially in the State, creating a wide
range of problems for farmers, ranchers, property owners, users of
transportation infrastructure, and many others.
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The legislature further finds that goats, sheep, and pigs are not native
to Hawaii.
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Therefore, like many other non-native
organisms, they have disrupted native ecosystems that evolved for millions of
years without these species present.

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Since
goats and sheep were introduced to Hawaii in 1778, the populations of these
species have grown to harmful levels.
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Along
with feral pigs, these species have destroyed native habitats by eating
endangered and endemic plants.
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This also
disrupts the many species of native wildlife that rely on those native plants.
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Goats, sheep, and pigs have also destroyed large
proportions of native dryland forests, allowing invasive, non‑native
grasses to overtake the landscape.
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Some
of these invasive grasses, such as Guinea grass, molasses grass, and
buffelgrass, become highly flammable when dry and helped fuel the intense and
fast-spreading 2023 Maui wildfires.

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Feral
goats, sheep, and pigs also cause dangerous impacts beyond native forests.
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Due in part to overpopulation, these animals have
steadily ventured closer to highways and other roadways to find food and
water.
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These species frequently cross
busy roads and even linger on highways to graze on grasses that protrude along
cracks in the asphalt.
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These behaviors
pose significant dangers to drivers, who must quickly swerve or stop their
vehicles to avoid collisions.
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However, large
trucks, especially those hauling trailers or carrying heavy loads, are often
unable to make quick stops.
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Similarly,
motorcycles and scooters, which have a much longer stopping distance than cars
and trucks, are prone to accidents caused by feral goats, sheep, and pigs.
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Motorcycle and scooter operators are also more
likely to suffer severe injury or death due to collisions.

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The
legislature also finds that, as populations of goats, sheep, and pigs increase,
individual animals become more likely to venture onto land where people live,
work, and play.
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This increases the
likelihood of interactions with humans.
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This
is concerning because feral animals may attack humans who get too close, creating
a risk to human life and welfare, particularly on residential properties
adjacent to large, open areas such as fields and golf courses.

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The
legislature further finds that feral goat, sheep, and pig populations negatively
impact land, water, and marine resources.
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For example, overgrazing exposes loose dirt, which can easily become
airborne during periods of high winds.
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The resulting dust storms are detrimental to the health of residents,
especially those with asthma and other health conditions.
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Similarly, debris and soil on overgrazed land
easily run off into streams, causing slopes to lose stability and increasing
the likelihood of landslides.
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The runoff
also damages downstream properties and nearshore waters and harms coral reefs
and other native ecosystems.

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The
legislature finds that populations of feral goats, sheep, and pigs may be
managed by coordinated trapping.
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A
state-led coordinated trapping program would create safer roads; protect
dryland forests from overgrazing; help feed underprivileged families and individuals;
provide property owners, ranchers, and farmers with an ecologically friendly
and herbicide‑free method of removing weeds and wildfire fuel; and
provide a humane and pro-active way to manage populations of feral
animals.
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The legislature further finds
that the department of land and natural resources, the agency with the most
experience managing public lands and preserving native ecosystems, is the most appropriate
agency to manage a trapping program.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
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Establish
a program within the department of land and natural resources to coordinate the
humane trapping of feral goats, sheep, and pigs in the State; and

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(2)
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Designate
the department of land and natural resources as the primary agency with
responsibility for the trapping of feral goats, sheep, and pigs.

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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 183D, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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"
�183D-
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Trapping of feral goats,
sheep, and pigs.

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(a)
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The
department, within its available appropriations, shall develop and maintain a
program to humanely manage populations of feral goats, sheep, and pigs in the
State by trapping.
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The program shall
include:

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(1)
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Partnerships with agencies and private
entities to increase the
availability of and access to trapped feral
goats, sheep, and pigs
to be sold, donated, or consumed as wild
game meat;

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(2)
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Partnerships with state and county
agencies to mitigate hazards from feral
goats,
sheep, and pigs
on highways and other transportation infrastructure;

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(3)
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Partnerships with state agencies and
private entities to mitigate hazards from feral
goats, sheep, and pigs
on dryland forests and other public and
private lands;

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(4)
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Where appropriate, the use of
trapped feral
goats, sheep, and pigs

to graze and browse for the purpose of grass and weed control; and

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(5)
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The establishment or expansion of
programs to educate property owners, ranchers, and farmers about services
offered under the trapping program and benefits of allowing access to property for
the trapping of feral
goats, sheep, and
pigs
.

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(b)
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The department shall
serve as the primary agency with
responsibility for the trapping of feral
goats, sheep, and pigs
in the State and shall coordinate with
other agencies for the trapping of feral
goats, sheep, and pigs
on public lands.

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(c)
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As used in this section,
"feral goats, sheep, and pigs" means goats, sheep, and pigs that are
living in a wild or feral state and are not under domestication.
"

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SECTION

3
.
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Section 183D-2,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

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"
�183D-2
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Powers and duties of department.
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The department shall:

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(1)
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Manage and administer the wildlife and
wildlife resources of the State;

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(2)
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Enforce all laws relating to the
protecting, taking, hunting, killing, propagating, or increasing the wildlife
within the State and the waters subject to its jurisdiction;

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(3)
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Recognize that:

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(A)
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Game mammals and game birds provide a
sustainable food source that merits high-quality habitats with sufficient food,
water, and refuge to support viable populations sufficient for hunting;

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(B)
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Proper management of game populations
in appropriate areas minimizes the impacts of these populations and provides
benefits to important watershed areas, including weed control and the reduction
of grass fire fuel; and

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(C)
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The State's unique relationship with
the ocean requires careful consideration and management of land and ocean
activities that prioritize the public trust responsibilities of the State,
including the conservation of natural resources for future generations and the
protection of native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices pursuant to
article XI, section 1, and article XII, section 7, of the Hawaii State
Constitution respectively;

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(4)
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Establish and maintain wildlife
propagating facility or facilities;

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(5)
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Subject to the provisions of title 12,
import wildlife for the purpose of propagating and disseminating the same in
the State and the waters subject to its jurisdiction;

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(6)
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Distribute, free of charge, as the
department deems to be in the public interest, game for the purpose of
increasing the food supply of the State; provided that when in the discretion
of the department the public interest will not be materially interfered with by
so doing, the department may propagate and furnish wildlife to private parties,
upon any reasonable terms, conditions, and prices that the department may
determine;

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(7)
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Ascertain, compile, and disseminate,
free of charge, information and advice as to the best methods of protecting,
propagating, and distributing wildlife in the State and the waters subject to
its jurisdiction;

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(8)
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Gather and compile information and
statistics concerning the area, location, character, and increase and decrease
of wildlife in the State;

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(9)
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Gather and compile information
concerning wildlife recommended for release in different localities, including
the care and propagation of wildlife for protective, productive, and aesthetic
purposes and other useful information, which the department deems proper;

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(10)
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Have the power to manage and regulate
all lands [
which
]
that
may be set apart as game management areas,
public hunting areas, and wildlife sanctuaries;

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(11)
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Pursuant to section 183D-65 of this
chapter, destroy predators deemed harmful to wildlife;

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(12)
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Pursuant to section 183D-
of this chapter, serve as the primary agency with responsibility for the
trapping of feral goats, sheep, and pigs;

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[
(12)
]

(13)
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Formulate, and from time to time recommend to
the governor and legislature, any additional legislation necessary or desirable
to implement the objectives of title 12; and

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[
(13)
]

(14)
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Preserve, protect, and promote public
hunting."

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SECTION
4.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION
5.
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This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR;
Trapping of Feral Goats, Sheep, and Pigs

Description:

Designates
the Department of Land and Natural Resources as the primary agency for the
trapping of feral goats, sheep, and pigs.
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Requires the Department to establish a program to humanely manage
populations of feral goats, sheep, and pigs in the State by trapping.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.